Eighteen burglaries from schools in the Dunedin and Clutha area since the start of August have prompted police to warn schools and their neighbours to be vigilant.
The most common items taken have been electrical goods, such as laptops and projectors, but thieves had also targeted canteens and common rooms, taking cash and food.
The most recent target was Outram School, with $5000 worth of equipment, including computers and a water blaster, stolen on Tuesday night.
Principal Greg Carroll said the school was devastated by the theft.
The younger children particularly had been scared when they realised someone had been in their classrooms and rifled through their desks.
Police said most of the schools burgled were secondary schools and most cases remained unsolved.
Dunedin-Clutha police area emergency response manager Inspector Alistair Dickie said schools could take extra security precautions, make sure doors and windows were properly secured, lock away valuables and put as good a security system in place as possible.
Those living near schools also had an important role to play.
"They are our eyes and ears. Police, including dog squads, will do patrols around schools whenever they can, but they can't be there all of the time."
Anyone who saw anything suspicious on a school property should call the police straight away.
